SJARMS September, 2016 meeting: Steve Guyger, Blues Harmonica Master

We are very excited to host Blues Harmonica master Steve Guyger for our September, 2016 meeting on Monday, September 12, 2016 at 7:00 pm at the Medford Memorial Community Center, 21 South Main Street, Medford, NJ. Steve will have a guitarist accompanying him at the performance.

Visitors $10 at the door. Current SJARMS members: no charge. For more information on membership please see the membership tab above. Other information please call 609-280-4926.

As usual we will have an all-level acoustic jam for about an hour after Steve’s performance and a short refreshment break. If you are attending the performance and are a musician that would like to participate in the jam please feel free to bring your acoustic instrument with you. More information can be found in the Acoustic Jam tab above.

Steve’s bio:

Philadelphia is home to one of the finest blues harp players in the world, much to the surprise of people not “inside” the blues scene. Over the past forty-plus years, 2009 Handy Award nominee Steve Guyger has been dishing out some of the finest blues to be heard anywhere. Whether in a duo, trio, or with his band, The Excellos, Steve always rocks the house.

Steve has toured with the late Jimmy Rogers, among others, and has played with many of the great Chicago bluesmen and contemporary players, yet he remains one of the best kept secrets in blues. The late William Clarke called Steve “the best harp player I’ve ever seen.” Mark Hummel called him “a monster player.” If you have heard Steve play, you know what they’re talking about. If you’ve never heard him, you’re missing a major page in your blues portfolio.

Steve began playing harp back in the late 60’s on a harmonica given to him by his future sister-in-law. Sometime later, his brother turned him on to Paul Butterfield. Steve’s passion for the blues harp took him to Chicago to learn at the feet of the masters of the art. Each trip taught him skills that he brought back to the local bands in which he paid his dues.

Steve has shared the stage with the greats in Chicago and the contemporary harp players touring the world today, names like Little Sammy Davis, Carey Bell, Rick Estrin, Rod Piazza,Kim Wilson, Mark Hummel, Charlie Musselwhite and many others. His playing, vocals, songwriting and stage presence have earned him a place among the best of the players on stage today.

Steve makes his home in Philly and can be seen on a regular basis at clubs in the tri-state area in addition to touring with the New Legends of the Blues All-Stars.